A Hole in One

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Bing, Jun 28, 2020.

  1. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Naw, I don't play golf. The balls are too small. I like games with bigger balls. Like bowling.

    Anyway, I purchased the following Vespasian even though in has a hole. The hole does not interfere with any of the devices on the coin, and it most certainly is an upgrade from my previous AE version of this coin. First my old version:
    Vespasian 7.jpg

    And, now my newest version with the hole:
    Vespasian 16.jpg
    VESPASIAN
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate bust of Vespasian right
    REVERSE: CAESAR AVG F COS CAESAR AVG F PR, heads of Titus & Domitian facing each other
    Struck at Rome, 70 AD
    2.69g, 19mm
    RIC 16; RSC 5

    Post your Vespasian coins or your coins with holes
     
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  3. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    I like the whole coin, er, I mean the hole coin,...ah, whatever...I like them both! :happy:;)....2 honest, hard working specimens! :singing:
     
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  4. SorenCoins

    SorenCoins Well-Known Member

    Here is my Vespasian, one of a few denarii I own:

    IMG_3097.JPG

    Vespasian AR Denarius, 73 AD, RIC 546- Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS, laureate head right. Rev: PONTIF MAXIM, Vespasian seated right, holding scepter and laureate branch.
     
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  5. SorenCoins

    SorenCoins Well-Known Member

    I like the hole in yours. Maybe it was used to string a thread for jewelry, or to keep track of change! In any case, it's a definite step-up from the previous example.
     
  6. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I really like your new denarius, the hole notwithstanding. I have no ancient coins with holes myself (not counting Roman Provincial coins from Thrace with "lathe dimples"), and have only one Vespasian (for now):

    Vespasian AR Denarius 74 AD; Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG / Rev. Vespasian seated right in curule chair, PON MAX TR P COS V. RIC II-1 702 (2007 ed.), old RIC II 177 (1926 ed.), RSC II 364, BMCRE 136. 19.1 mm., 3.432 g. (Purchased from Forum Ancient Coins, Dec. 2017. Ex. Gitbud & Naumann Auction 36 [4 Oct 2015], Lot 616).

    Cropped jpg Vespasian silver denarius (Forum Coins) detail (2).jpg

    Edited to add: see the much higher-resolution photo I posted later in this thread.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2020
  7. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    A nice upgrade, JW.

    Coins with holes were always the #1 nono when I was collecting coins as a kid, but ever since I got into ancients, I can tolerate them so long as they are not too obscuring to the portrait or something else I bought the coin for.

    I have more holed world coins then Ancients. These are just a few.

    [​IMG]
    Edward VI (1547 - 1553 A.D.)
    AR Shilling
    O: (tun) ЄDWΛRD’· VI : D’· S’ ΛGl’: FRΛ’· Z : hIB’· RЄX :, crowned and mantled bust facing slightly left; rose to left, XII to right.
    R: (tun) POSVI DЄVM ·’ : ΛDIVTOR Є’· MEV·’·, coat-of-arms over long cross fourchée.
    5.7g
    32mm
    North 1937; SCBC 2482

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    That's a beauty Bing! I really enjoy the character that holes give coins. Sacrilege, I know.
    Speaking of, I recently purchased this holy coin for my father in law. He's a holy fella. So, I figured what's more holy than this!
    1161251_1588454812-removebg-preview.png
    Medieval
    Italy, Venice. Antonio Veniero. 1382-1400. AR grosso (21.4 mm, 1.75 g, 4 h). ANTO' • VENERIO • • S • M • VENETI, DVX, doge standing left and St. Mark, nimbate, standing facing, both holding pendant between them; stars flanking / • + • TIBI • LAVS • • 3 • GLORIA •, Christ, nimbate, seated facing on high-backed throne. CNI 40; Biaggi 2855; Papadopoli 3. VF. Rare. Ex: Ares

    Let me tell you, it's even holier in hand :rolleyes:;)
     
  9. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Holey-COW, @Bing ! Great coin. Not an upgrade in my book... I would keep them BOTH! Always liked Vespasian.

    Here is another of those Roman Provincials, but NOT from the Greek area, and NOT from the Empire period. Rather, it is from the Roman Republic.

    upload_2020-6-28_12-48-45.png
    RImp
    Spain
    Lepida-Clesa
    Lepidus
    44-36 BCE
    C Balbus L Porcius
    Colonia Victrix Ivlia Lepida
    Victory -
    Bull, holed
    RPI 262 plate 19

    Comment: I personally think this coin was worn by an aged Legionary who was settled in this Colony. Proud of their past battles.
     
  10. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice one Bing. I'd gladly add that to my collection. Holes are not a problem, really - if nothing else, they tend to make things affordable.

    Here's my most recent holey-moley:

    Hadrian - As Salus lot June 2020 (0).jpg

    Hadrian Æ As
    (125-128 A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / SALVS AVG[VSTI] S-C, COS III below, Salus standing left holding patera, feeding serpent arising from altar.
    RIC II.3 828 (RIC 678); Cohen 1357; BMC 1349.
    (8.61 grams / 25 mm)
     
  11. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    There's a small hole on this Vespasian , or is it a hearing aid ?

    P1170829new.jpg
     
  12. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    upload_2020-6-28_13-20-18.png
    China ANCIENT
    Cowrie -
    Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE - 1046 BCE)
    BONE
    2 holes for clothing or funeral bier
    20mm
    Hartill 1-2v Coole 51-66
    Ex: Scott Semans CoinCoin


    upload_2020-6-28_13-27-14.png
    China
    Shang Dynasty 1766-1154 BCE or Zhou Dynasty
    Ghost Face Ant Nose
    AE 1.65g
    Hartill 1.4
    Holed (filled with debris)
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2020
  13. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I tolerate holes but I like a hole with something inside.
    Titus and Domitian AE24 Stobi, Macedon, temple, holed with ancient wire loop
    pb0160fd0149.jpg

    Augustus denarius once nailed to something with an iron nail most of which has broken away. This item would be much better if the hammer had been struck one fewer blow or if the rest of the nail had survived. As is, it is what it is and I like it.
    rb0850bb1685.jpg

    This Antoninus Pius diobol of Alexandria was purchased near the end of the SteveX6 sell-off. I paid too much but not as much as Steve paid. Holes reduce the value of coins a lot but when the coin is uncommon with no faults we have to decide if we want the coin or not. This is only an R3 but show me one with a better bull.
    pa0262fd3472.jpg

    When I bought this Septimius Severus LEG XXII PRI in 1987, I was told that there were only six known. That was not true; I now have five but this was my first. The crack bothers me a lot more than the hole.
    ri3900bb0035.jpg
     
  14. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    A holey Vespasian as somebody made a "hope" pendant out of:

    Vespasian As SPES (0).jpg

    Vespasian Æ As
    (75 or 76A.D.)
    Rome Mint

    IMP CAES VESPAS AVG COS [VI or VII ?], laureate head right / S-C, Spes standing left holding flower and hem of skirt. Holed planchet.
    RIC 816 (VI) or 894 (VII)?
    ("CAES VESPAS" var. ?)
    (9.89 grams / 26 mm)
     
  15. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..o wow!...last nite i just purchased my 1st holed ancient too...:nailbiting:....(i'll post it when i get it:D)...but i got plenty of jewerly in silver here....holes really don't bother me...kinda neat to think someone in the past wore it as a decoration:) Holed Holy emperor coins 001.JPG
     
  16. jamesicus

    jamesicus Well-Known Member

    The only “holed” coin I own - except it is a “pocket” in that doesn’t go all the way through. Doesn’t bother me one bit.

    B522C1AB-7EAD-411B-97C9-ED53B017860E.jpeg
     
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  17. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Oh, well, if we're posting non-ancient holey coins, here are a couple of mine, both from the remnants of my old collection of British coins and medals, and both falling into the often-holed category of Victorian white metal souvenir medals. White metal is a base metal alloy of tin, zinc, and other ingredients; it became very popular in the Victorian era because white metal medals were (a) very shiny, and (b) very cheap. In fact, they're still very cheap; much less expensive than comparable medals in bronze, let alone silver. And it isn't hard to find examples that are still somewhat shiny after all these years -- without much, if anything, having been done to them -- if one tilts them at an angle. Although, as you can see from the first one, the high points tend to turn a dark gray over time; cleaning them really doesn't help.

    I'm including the full description of the first medal so people can see how ridiculously elaborate these things became in that era.

    Queen Victoria 1838 White Metal Coronation Medal by J. Davis, Birmingham. Obv. Head of Queen Victoria left, garlanded with roses, thistles, and shamrocks, hair held in chignon. On a raised band around, VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REGINA F: D: / Rev. On a raised dais, the Queen is seated on a throne being crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. To the right she is proclaimed by the figures Britannia, Scotia and Hibernia. To the left she is attended by a blindfolded Justice and by Industry. A winged herald and cherub above, lion and cornucopia with other symbolic objects below. On a raised band around, H. M. G. MAJESTY VICTORIA above, BORN MAY 24TH 1819. ASCENDED THE BRITISH THRONE JUNE 20TH 1837 below. In exergue: CROWNED / JUNE 28TH 1838 (in an arc). Signed to the right: DAVIS, BIRM. BHM 1807 [Brown, Laurence, British Historical Medals Vol. II, 1837-1901 (Seaby 1987)]; Whittlestone & Ewing 98A [Whittlestone, Andrew & Michael Ewing, Royal Commemorative Medals 1837-1977, Vol. I: The Reign of Queen Victoria 1837-1901 (2008)]. 65 mm., 80.1 g.

    Victoria WM Coronation Medal Obv 1.jpg

    Victoria WM Coronation Medal Rev 2.jpg

    Viewed from directly above, you can see no shine at all:

    Victoria WM Coronation Medal Rev 3.jpg

    The second one (obverse only because I don't have a decent photo of the reverse) was issued -- along with hundreds of other medals -- in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. By F. Bowcher, manufactured by Messrs. Spink & Sons Ltd. BHM II 3529, Eimer 1820. White Metal, 38 mm., 17.2 g.

    Victoria Diamond Jubilee WM medal Obv.jpg

    I didn't sell these two medals when I sold most of the valuable British coins and medals I owned, because it wasn't worth the trouble -- I probably would have gotten $20-$30 for the two of them, if I were lucky.
     
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2020
  18. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I've got a Vespasian dupondius with two holes.

    Vespasian3dupFIDESPVBLICA03134.jpg
    27 mm. 11.06 grams.
    Vespasian radiate head left.
    IMP CAES VESP AVG PM TRP COS V CENS
    FELICITAS PVBLICA
    Felicitas standing left holding winged cadeuceus and cornupocpia.
    Sear I 2634 (has a photo of COS IIII).
    RIC 716, struck 74.
     
  19. Orfew

    Orfew Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus

    This coin was affordable with the hole. D 1489 VESP.jpg It would probably be in the 4 figures without it. I bought it because it is so rare I might never see another one in trade again. Also was struck at Ephesus.

    Domitian RIC 1489 [VESPASIAN]
     
  20. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    First, a coin with a hole. (Constantine I)

    constantine1.jpg

    constantine2.jpg

    Second, a Vespasian.

    vespasian.jpg
     
  21. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Excellent pickup, @Bing! I'd love to have that one in my collection. My holed Vespasian... neither the coin nor its hole are as nice as yours.

    Holed - Vespasian Denarius 2517.jpg
    VESPASIAN
    AR Denarius (Holed). 3.16g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 75. RIC II 772. O: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right. R: PON MAX TR P COS VI, Pax seated left, holding branch extended in right hand, left hand in lap.
     
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